In this episode of Drip Trickle Flow Flood, we dig into a timely article on how median salaries shifted across the U.S. and what those numbers really mean in real life. From remote work reshaping entire regions to why a raise doesn’t always feel like a raise, we unpack the hidden stories behind state-by-state income data, share personal observations from Washington and Hawaii, and explore creative ways people are leveraging geography, flexibility, and strategy to build wealth. If you’ve ever wondered how location impacts your earning power (or how to play the long game with income), this one’s for you.

1. Median incomes may be rising, but cost of living often rises right alongside them, so higher pay doesn’t automatically mean more financial freedom.
2. Remote and hybrid work are quietly reshaping local economies, driving up housing costs and salaries in unexpected places far outside major cities.
3. Big employers and corporate hubs can dramatically skew state averages, creating pockets of wealth that don’t reflect the broader region.
4. Some people are strategically earning high salaries in expensive areas early on, then moving to lower-cost states to stretch savings and investments further.
5. Thinking long-term about where you work, where you live, and how you stack and deploy income can create powerful flexibility across different seasons of life.

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Disclaimer:

The information provided in this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. The opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are solely their own and do not reflect the views of any companies or organizations they may be affiliated with.

Listeners should conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment or financial decisions. While we strive for accuracy, we do not guarantee that the information presented is complete, current, or applicable to your specific situation. Investing involves risk, including potential loss of principal.

By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge and agree that the hosts, guests, and producers are not responsible for any financial decisions you make based on the content discussed.

What happens when you stop treating income like a single lane and start building it like an ecosystem? In this episode of Drip Trickle Flow Flood, we sit down with Ronii Bartles, business manager, strategist, jewelry curator, Zumba instructor, and CEO of Simplicity, to talk about how expertise, trust, and simplicity can unlock unexpected (and surprisingly easy) income streams.

From uncovering hidden value in inherited jewelry to dismantling the myth that “busy” equals productive, Ronii shares how a strong personal brand can support multiple revenue paths without burnout.

1. Expertise creates opportunity.
2. Becoming deeply knowledgeable in one area often reveals niche problems people are desperate to solve and willing to pay for.
3. Community is a revenue multiplier.
4. Ronii’s jewelry business grew organically from relationships built in her Zumba classes - proof that trust often comes before the offer.
5. Simplicity scales better than hustle.
6. Multiple income streams don’t have to mean complexity. When everything ladders back to one clear personal brand, it actually gets easier.
7. Busy is not the same as productive.
8. Activity without revenue is just noise. Ronii breaks down how focusing on revenue-producing work changed everything.
9. Different income streams use different energy, not more energy.
10. Physical movement, tactile work, and analytical tasks balance each other out and prevent burnout when designed intentionally.

Check out Ronii’s website or follow her on Instagram.

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Disclaimer:

The information provided in this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. The opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are solely their own and do not reflect the views of any companies or organizations they may be affiliated with.

Listeners should conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment or financial decisions. While we strive for accuracy, we do not guarantee that the information presented is complete, current, or applicable to your specific situation. Investing involves risk, including potential loss of principal.

By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge and agree that the hosts, guests, and producers are not responsible for any financial decisions you make based on the content...

In this episode of Drip Trickle Flow Flood, we dig into a headline that could reshape everything: women are poised to inherit an estimated $47 trillion of the projected $124 trillion wealth transfer.

We unpack what that shift means for women, and for the financial industry, financial advisors, investing strategies, and even the kinds of businesses that may thrive next. If the money is changing hands, the systems around it will have to change too… and the big question is: is the finance industry ready?

This conversation covers representation in financial services, how firms market to women (or fail to), why being heard matters as much as returns, and where women may choose to invest when they finally have a bigger seat at the table.

1. A massive wealth shift is coming, and the industry isn’t ready yet.
2. The episode highlights how women are expected to receive a major portion of the upcoming wealth transfer, while financial advising remains male-dominated. That gap creates a real opportunity (and a real problem) for firms that don’t evolve.
3. Representation matters, but so does how advisors communicate.
4. It’s not only about hiring more women (though that matters a lot). It’s also about advisors of any gender learning how to engage women clients without assumptions, including who the “decision maker” is when couples walk in the door.
5. We don’t fully know women’s investing behavior… because women haven’t always been in the room.
6. It’s hard to draw conclusions about “how women invest” when so many women have historically been excluded from the networks and spaces where investing opportunities happen.
7. This shift could change where money goes, from industries to asset classes.
8. We explore how increased female control of wealth could shape investment choices (risk tolerance, industries, goals-based planning), and even spending patterns, which can influence market trends and business opportunities.
9. This is a career and business opportunity, especially for women.
10. As money changes hands, many people will look for new advisors and a more values-aligned “money team.” We point out that finance careers (advisors, bankers, accountants, real estate investing) may become even more in-demand, and the human element will still matter.

Our Links

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What if getting organized wasn’t about perfection, but about freedom? In this episode of Drip Trickle Flow Flood, we sit down with Shanice Bannis, founder of City of Creative Dreams, a lifestyle brand that blends organization, creativity, and real-life practicality into a business that’s been growing for over 12 years. From starting a blog as a new mom searching for identity, to building multiple income streams through printables, Etsy, guest posts, affiliate links, remote organizing, and brand partnerships, Shanice’s story is a masterclass in letting your work evolve with you. This conversation is equal parts inspiring, tactical, and deeply relatable for anyone trying to build income without losing themselves in the process.

We discuss:

1. Your first idea doesn’t have to be your final one.
2. Shanice started by throwing her passions at the wall — organizing, motherhood, weddings, DIY — and let time reveal what stuck. That freedom is what made her brand sustainable for over a decade.
3. Your passion can be a business model.
4. From digital products and Etsy downloads to remote closet designs and affiliate income, Shanice proves that systems can become services.
5. You don’t need to scale everything at once.
6. Some income streams drip. Some trickle. Some surprise you. Shanice tests ideas, lets them live, and only grows what feels aligned, no forced hustle required.
7. Remote services are powerful (and underrated).
8. Her virtual organizing business helps clients see through clutter without anyone stepping foot in their home, a perfect example of solving a real problem creatively.
9. Organize for who you are now, not who you used to be.
10. Shanice’s biggest tip: organize imperfectly. Your systems should evolve as your life evolves, and that applies to money, business, and creativity too.

Check out Shanice’s work here

Our Links

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Subscribe to this newsletter for income ideas that drip, trickle, flow, and flood into your life.

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Disclaimer:

The information provided in this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. The opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are solely their own and do not reflect the views of any companies or organizations they may be affiliated with.

Listeners should conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment or financial decisions. While we strive for accuracy, we do not guarantee that the information presented is complete, current, or applicable...

Kicking off the second week of January, we continue the financial planning conversation with a practical, no-shame approach to setting yourself up for the year ahead. From improving financial literacy and knowing your numbers to spending with intention, paying down debt without guilt, and building flexibility into your plans, this episode is about creating stability without rigidity. We also revisit the power of building the right financial team and intentionally growing your drip, trickle, flow, and flood income streams — so your money supports your life, not the other way around.

We discuss:

1. Financial literacy is an ongoing practice, not a finish line.
2. Whether it’s podcasts, books, conversations, or using AI to break things down in your own learning style, consistently investing in understanding money builds confidence and clarity over time.
3. Knowing your numbers creates freedom, not restriction.
4. Understanding what’s coming in, what’s going out, and what’s left applies to both personal and business finances. Simple systems and regular money check-ins make everything easier to manage.
5. Spend with intention, not guilt.
6. Reviewing subscriptions, travel choices, and education investments helps ensure your money aligns with what actually matters to you without cutting joy or shaming yourself.
7. Pay down debt without emotional baggage.
8. Not all debt is bad, and carrying shame only adds an unnecessary emotional cost. Owning where you are, learning from it, and moving forward is progress.
9. Plan for change and diversify your income streams.
10. Financial plans are never perfect. Flexibility, a strong support team, and intentionally growing your drip, trickle, flow, and flood income streams help you stay steady when life shifts.

Our Links

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Rate and Review

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to rate and review Drip Trickle Flow Flood on your favorite podcast platform. It helps new listeners discover the show and it makes our day. Thanks for listening!

Subscribe to this newsletter for income ideas that drip, trickle, flow, and flood into your life.

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Disclaimer:

The information provided in this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. The opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are solely their own and do not reflect the views of any companies or organizations they may be affiliated with.

Listeners should conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment or financial decisions. While we strive for accuracy, we do not guarantee that the information presented is complete, current, or applicable to your specific situation. Investing involves risk, including potential loss of principal.

By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge and agree that the hosts, guests, and producers are not responsible for any financial decisions you make based on the content discussed.

Money decisions are rarely just about math. They’re about fear, confidence, trust, and timing. In this episode of Drip Trickle Flow Flood, we’re joined by Cheryl Hirss, owner of Sagewater Financial, to demystify what financial advisors actually do, who benefits most from working with one, and how taking emotion out of investing can dramatically change long-term outcomes. From navigating retirement transitions to managing family dynamics and building a true “financial team,” Cheryl brings a calm, grounded perspective to a world that often feels overwhelming and reactive.

We discuss:

1. A financial advisor’s real value is removing emotion from money decisions.
2. Fear and greed drive most poor financial outcomes, and having a disciplined plan helps prevent reactive buying, selling, or freezing.
3. There’s no “too late” — only unrealistic goals and lack of discipline.
4. People start working with advisors at every life stage, and progress is still possible with clear expectations and consistency.
5. Wealth is a system of pillars.
6. Investments, real estate, entrepreneurship, taxes, insurance, and estate planning all work together, not in isolation.
7. Couples don’t need identical money personalities, just a shared plan.
8. Objective risk assessments and data-driven tools can help partners find common ground without emotional conflict.
9. A good advisor thinks about the gaps you don’t know to look for.
10. From estate planning oversights to life transitions, real financial planning goes far beyond picking investments.

Learn more about Cheryl at her website: https://www.sagewaterfinancial.com/team/cheryl-hirss

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Rate and Review

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Subscribe to this newsletter for income ideas that drip, trickle, flow, and flood into your life.

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Disclaimer:

The information provided in this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. The opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are solely their own and do not reflect the views of any companies or organizations they may be affiliated with.

Listeners should conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment or financial decisions. While we strive for accuracy, we do not guarantee that the information presented is complete, current, or applicable to your specific situation. Investing involves risk, including potential loss of principal.

By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge and agree that the hosts, guests, and producers are not responsible for any financial decisions you make based on the...

What does it look like to build a creative life over decades and make it deeply satisfying and sustainable?

In this episode, we sit down with cartoonist, illustrator, musician, and writer Todd Webb, creator of the daily comic strip The Poet. Todd shares how a project that started as a short book quietly turned into a six-year daily practice, how Substack, book collections, and pop culture art prints support his work, and why he’s more interested in enjoying the act of creation than chasing a single “big break.”

We discuss:

1. You don’t need one big income stream. Small creative trickles add up.
2. Todd’s work is supported by a mix of Substack subscriptions, book sales, art prints, conventions, and commissions. None of them are floods, but together they create enough space to keep making what he loves.
3. Make the thing you want to exist, not the thing you think will sell.
4. The Poet wasn’t designed to be a daily strip or a long-running project. It became one because Todd followed the work instead of forcing an outcome.
5. Giving your work away can be a powerful long-term strategy.
6. From mailing mini-comics to artists he admired to offering a mostly free Substack, Todd shows how generosity builds real connection over time.
7. Creative success doesn’t have to mean constant escalation.
8. Not every project needs to become a TV show, a franchise, or a brand empire. Sometimes success is simply having the time and energy to keep creating.
9. You get more than one chance every single day.
10. Missed opportunities, rejected pitches, and projects that don’t pan out aren’t dead ends. They’re material. Ideas can be reused, reshaped, and reborn when the timing is right.

About Todd

Todd Webb has been drawing the daily comic strip The Poet for the past six years. Prior to that he did a lot of other stuff like comic books and graphic novels, music, illustration, screenwriting, and animation. Find info on all of it (and subscribe to The Poet) by visiting TODDBOT.COM

Follow Todd on Instagram

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Disclaimer:

The information provided in this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. The opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are solely their own and do not reflect the views of any companies or organizations they may be affiliated with.

Listeners should conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial...

What does Home Alone have to do with inflation, buying power, and why your money can’t just sit still anymore? A lot more than you’d think. In this episode, we kick things off with a nostalgic look at Kevin McCallister’s $19 grocery run and use it as a lens to unpack how inflation quietly reshapes everything from groceries and housing to creative businesses, side hustles, and long-term financial security. Along the way, we connect the dots between rising costs, shifting industries, and why having multiple income streams is essential.

We discuss:

• That $19 grocery bill from Home Alone would cost roughly $72 today, an easy way to see how steady inflation compounds over time.
• Inflation quietly erodes buying power by 3–4% a year, which means money sitting still is effectively losing value.
• Different industries feel inflation differently: digital products and subscription models often absorb it better than physical goods and service-based businesses.
• Small businesses that survive economic pressure tend to adapt by reducing costs, changing models, or creating new revenue streams.

Our Links

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Subscribe to this newsletter for income ideas that drip, trickle, flow, and flood into your life.

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Disclaimer:

The information provided in this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. The opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are solely their own and do not reflect the views of any companies or organizations they may be affiliated with.

Listeners should conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment or financial decisions. While we strive for accuracy, we do not guarantee that the information presented is complete, current, or applicable to your specific situation. Investing involves risk, including potential loss of principal.

By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge and agree that the hosts, guests, and producers are not responsible for any financial decisions you make based on the content discussed.